NFA to continue buying palay to boost buffer stock

The National Food Authority (NFA) will continue buying palay (unhusked rice) despite the onset of the rainy season to fill up the country’s buffer stock, according to a "24 Oras" report by Bernadette Reyes on Friday. 

“Hindi naman tayo sinasalanta ng bagyo na buong buong Pilipinas. Umani naman tayo ng maganda. Si NFA talagang buffer lang,” said NFA acting administrator Larry Lacson.

(The whole country isn’t being devastated by typhoons. We are getting a good harvest. The NFA is just here to provide buffer stocks.)

At a warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, the NFA has around 136,000 metric tons (MT) of palay, which would be able to supply the country for four days.

The overall target of palay purchase for the year is 495,000 MT which is good for the country's nine-day supply.

Lacson said that the NFA regularly purchases 60% of its stocks during the rainy season.

Farmers also see an opportunity to sell their harvest at a decent price.

“Pagkatumaas kasi [ang presyo] nang kahit P1 lang kung cocompare mo sa trader, malaking bagay yun kasi nakakadagdag sa pambili ng abono, pambili ng binhi, pambili ng chemicals na gagamitin sa bukid,” said farmer Arnie Magat.

(If [the prices] rise even just P1 compared to traders, it’s a big deal because it adds to our capital for our seeds and chemicals used for the field)

The only challenge posed by the rainy season would be the lack of facilities to dry the grains.

“Ang instruction ko sa lahat ng regional offices ng NFA, look for drying facilities that we can contract para meron kaming pagdadalhan ng mga basang palay,” Lacson said.

(My instruction to all regional offices of the NFA is to look for drying facilities where we can dry the palay.) —Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News